Darlington's Pop Idol star Zoe Birkett, 16, has made the shock decision to quit her A-level studies at the town's Carmel Technology College and go in search of showbiz success.
In Thursday's Northern Echo, Zoe explains in full why she has made that decision. She also talks about how she is planning a single and album release after signing with 19 Management, the company which is also handling the careers of the TV show's top two, Will Young and Gareth Gates.
Zoe is appearing in the sell-out Pop Idol show tour at the Telewest Arena, Newcastle, Wednesday and Thursday evening.
Asked for a message to website fans she said: "Hello and thank you for all the support. I hope some of you were able to come along and see the shows and, if you can't, then the new Pop Idol album comes out on Monday."
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